October 31, 2012 • Vol. 10, No.42
POSTAL PATRON CAVE CREEK
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Anthem • Black Canyon City • Carefree • Cave Creek • Desert Hills • New River • N. Phoenix • Tramonto
Wild West Days return to Cave Creek STAFF REPORT
Submitted photo
The Arizona Cowboy Mounted Shooting team will be one of numerous entertainment acts during Wild West Days. The annual event gets under way Friday and runs through Sunday in Cave Creek.
Wild West Days, Arizona’s largest western venue and a Cave Creek signature event, returns Friday - Sunday throughout the Town of Cave Creek. The four-day event features three days of non-stop family entertainment, mutton bustin’, a period costume competition, a childrens’ costume competition, musical performers, period vendors, a western parade and various horse-related activities and other festivities. This year’s Wild West Days features the second annual Gun Down by Sundown. The twoday event will feature gunfighter
groups from throughout the West that will perform in a gunfight competition all day long, on Saturday and Sunday. The final performance will feature a special centennial show in honor of Arizona’s 100-year anniversary. Six Gun Entertainment’s Six Gun Justice Gunfighters also will give a performance on Saturday night. Other highlights from Wild West Days include: • C owpokes ‘n Little Folks: a western play land for kids and families featuring pony rides, performances by Detour Company, the Prescott Regulators
and their shady ladies, Guns of the Round Table, Baddog Bennett and his amazing trick horses, The Arizona Duuude, Annabel, stunt training for youngsters and more. • Western parade: At 9 a.m., Saturday numerous nonvehicular entries bring the true spirit of the west to Cave Creek visitors. • Walk for 100: Hundreds of firefighters, police and service men and women on horseback and on foot walk in silence during Saturday’s
WILD
continued on page 10
Starlight takes crowd to Oz
Poker ride supports New River arena
MARC BUCKHOUT MANAGING EDITOR
MARC BUCKHOUT MANAGING EDITOR
The Kiwanis Club of New River is looking for community members interested in saddling up for the 16th annual poker ride, set for 9:15 a.m., Saturday at Larkyn Memorial Arena. Cost to participate in the roughly three hour ride and lunch to follow is $25 for ages 13 and over and $15 for ages 12 and under. Proceeds from the event go toward
RIDE
continued on page 4
Inside:
Christian Graca wants theater enthusiasts to know that there’s no place like Starlight Community Theater. Graca is the director of the theater’s season debut, The Wizard of Oz, set to run Friday – Nov. 18 with 14 performances. “You can’t stray too far from the main story, but we’ve added some humorous current references to keep the audience on its toes, but the show is a classic with the story and the music. People will end the night singing the songs as they leave,” she said. The show is a family affair as Savoy Graca, 14 and Thomas Graca 17, are starring with Savoy performing
in the role of the Wicked Witch and Thomas playing the part of the Scarecrow. “This show has sentimental meaning for me,” Savoy said. “The first show I ever did was Wiz. When I was 6 I played the part of a munchkin.” For a less than physically imposing Savoy, who jokes about her lack of height, playing the roll of the intimidating Wicked Witch has been a fun challenge. “I’m working on being as mean as I can,” she said. “Even when we’re not rehearsing I’m still trying to work on it. It’s fun.” Thomas Graca said he was initially more interested in working on the tech side, focusing on the sound for the show, but is excited he made the decision to perform.
ART:
MUSIC:
Carefree hosts 19th annual Fine Arts and Wine Festival
Page 7
Marc Buckhout/The Foothills Focus
Starlight Community Theater debuts its upcoming season with the Wizard of Oz, opening at 7 p.m. Friday in the Safeway Center plaza located at 3655 W. Anthem Way Suite 119 in Anthem. To view more photos from Starlight’s rehersals of The Wizard of Oz go to facebook. com/thefoothills.focus.
“I love the physicality of the role,” he said. “The Scarecrow is
always
jumping
around,
He said he the chemistry of actors have.
also the
loves group
falling down. It’s tough on my knees, but that’s okay.”
SPORTS:
OZ
continued on page 5
OTHER :
Cave Creek Unified Education Foundation hosts Rock the District show
Cactus Shadows quarterback sets state mark in season-ending win
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